HealthSparq Blog

Could there be three more hot topics for health plans than mobile, engagement and consumer experience? With that in mind, we recently set out to answer some questions about what members want from mobile experiences with their health insurance companies and how plans might be able to build better mobile apps that both perform and engage. Read More…

In any industry, there are questions to answer and problems to solve: “how can we reduce customer hold times”, “how can we get products to market faster” or “what new product or service can we offer?” Read More…

High call volume during open enrollment can be a double whammy for your plan – not only is it very expensive to staff your call center, but long wait times can leave your brand-new members annoyed and frustrated. We recently spoke with a plan that received 35% higher call volume during their open enrollment period. This post highlights a few insights for how to reduce your call volume during open enrollment. Read More…

At What’s The Fix? We invite health care industry leaders and everyday people alike to join us as we listen and learn from a group of incredible patients, caregivers and innovators who are working to put people at the forefront of health care. We all know that health care is tough, cold and inefficient. So, What’s The Fix? At this unique event we’re talking to people who faced incredible odds and developed answers to problems that only patients and caregivers can truly help solve. Read More…

Health care is undergoing a tremendous amount of change and people are becoming more involved in their care than ever before. Armed with the internet and social media, people are working with their doctors to find novel solutions to daunting health care challenges. These people are often pushing the boundaries of modern Western medicine and finding effective treatments. Like the mother focusing on diet to help arthritic 3-year-old, or the family coping with chronic Lyme disease. In this episode, we’ll explore the stories of these patient advocates. Read More…

HealthSparq exists to help people make smarter health care choices. As we celebrate five years as a company, we took stock of what we’ve accomplished so far and what a few of the people who have been with us since the beginning think of our growth. Read More…

Our end users are health plan members. We all know that health care is often not a delightful journey and that health care issues often also bring along emotional and financial stress. By being empathetic to these issues, a UX designer may be able to achieve better member satisfaction. Read More…

More than half of Americans today take at least one prescription drug, and costs are continually on the rise. But when determining whether a medication is the right choice, people should consider more than just cost – it’s about safety and efficacy, too. People should feel empowered to ask – and find answers to – questions like, “What is the proof of safety and effectiveness?” “How does this medication compare to others like it?” “Will the side effects interfere with my lifestyle?” and “What do others think?” Read More…

What’s the Fix? is a conference specifically created to bring stories to light and to use those stories to help change the mess that is health care. We aren’t trying to fix health care at the macro level (an extremely difficult task, and, as someone once said, “Who knew health care was so complicated?”), but we are trying to inspire people to commit to making the changes and to fix what they can control. We believe that if people take health care into their own hands, and commit to making small changes, the overall experience for all starts to improve. Read More…

For the most part, health plan marketing is pretty bland and chock full of stock images. Part of the reason is .– it’s hard to get around the perception that health care is cold and prickly. And the fact is, it’s a perception that has been fairly earned in the minds of many people. But that doesn’t mean your brand should shy away from emotional, warm-and-fuzzy marketing, if that’s who you want to be. Read More…